Ergonomic tool handle enhancement

Abstract

A tool handle including: a body configured to receive a handle of a tool; a hand grip extending approximately perpendicular from the body; and an arm ring rotatably disposed on the body, wherein the arm ring is adapted to be placed in at least two positions, a first position in which the arm ring is generally perpendicular to the hand grip such that a user may place the user's forearm through the arm ring to grasp the hand grip and a second position in which the arm ring is generally parallel to the hand grip so as to minimize the width of the tool handle.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tool handle comprising:
 a body configured to receive a handle of a tool; 
 a hand grip extending approximately perpendicular from the body; and 
 an arm ring rotatably connected to the body via a ball joint, wherein the arm ring is adapted to be placed in at least two positions, a first position in which the arm ring is generally perpendicular to the hand grip such that a user may place the user's forearm through the arm ring to grasp the hand grip and a second position in which the arm ring is generally parallel to the hand grip so as to minimize the width of the tool handle. 
 
     
     
       2. The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the arm ring is rotatable with a resistance between the first position and second position and is temporarily fixable in at least selected positions. 
     
     
       3. The tool handle of  claim 2  wherein the rotational resistance is sufficient for supporting independent standing of the tool handle when inverted and placed on a substrate, with the arm ring contacting the substrate. 
     
     
       4. The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the hand grip is located less than a cubit from the arm ring. 
     
     
       5. The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the body is a two-piece clamshell formation. 
     
     
       6. The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the body is overmolded on the handle of the tool. 
     
     
       7. The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the ball joint is formed within a socket at a free end of the body. 
     
     
       8. The tool handle of  claim 7  wherein the socket includes a slot guiding the movement of the arm ring within the socket. 
     
     
       9. The tool handle of  claim 1  wherein the inner diameter of the arm ring is approximately 3 to 5 inches and the distance from the arm ring to the hand grip is approximately 6 to 10 inches. 
     
     
       10. A tool handle comprising:
 a tool handle member having a first crossbar with a free end and an opposite working end; 
 an arm ring rotatably disposed on the free end of the crossbar at a point of attachment, wherein the point of attachment is a ball joint, including a ball end located on the arm ring and a socket on the crossbar, being rotatable with a resistance about the point of attachment and being temporarily fixable in selected positions; and 
 a hand grip secured to and extending generally transversely from the crossbar. 
 
     
     
       11. The tool handle of  claim 10  wherein the rotational resistance is sufficient for supporting independent standing of the tool handle when inverted and placed on a substrate, with the arm ring contacting the substrate. 
     
     
       12. The tool handle of  claim 10  wherein the rotational resistance is formed primarily by the outer diameter of the ball end being slightly larger than the inner diameter of the socket. 
     
     
       13. The tool handle of  claim 12  wherein the stress placed on the socket by the ball end does not exceed the elastic limits of the material forming the socket. 
     
     
       14. A tool handle comprising:
 a shaft having a proximate end, including a socket, and an opposite distal end, wherein at least the distal end attaches to a tool implement; 
 an arm ring having a ball end for rotatably engaging as a ball joint the socket at the proximate end of the shaft, wherein the arm ring rotates with a resistance to free rotation; and 
 a hand grip extending generally transversely from the shaft at less than a cubit from the arm ring and the proximate end of the shaft. 
 
     
     
       15. The tool handle of  claim 14  wherein the arm ring is rotatably engaged to the tool handle with a threaded fastener system configured for providing resistance. 
     
     
       16. The tool handle of  claim 14  wherein the shaft is a two-part clamshell formation. 
     
     
       17. The tool handle of  claim 14  wherein the rotational resistance of the arm ring allows independent standing of an inverted tool, wherein the arm ring contacts a substrate.